What’s one way to get a new magazine noticed? Create a celebrity cover, ideally with a provocative photo concept. TWELV magazine, a new New York-based publication hitting newsstands at the end of May, chose the ever intriguing Mischa Barton as its debut covergirl.

With her new clothing line, music video cameo, an upcoming movie and red carpet appearances, Barton has already re-piqued our interest. But one of her two TWELV covers, to be used for 500 limited edition copies of the debut issue, is especially intriguing: wearing a matronly white dress, Mischa poses holding a baby. A naked, thumb-sucking, real live baby.

The clothing itself — a white, buttoned-up frock that reminds of Leelee Sobieski’s recent Jil Sander number — is already a change for the leather leggings-loving Mischa. But the baby is an even stranger sight: what is Marissa Cooper doing with an infant?

Trying to get us to read TWELV, we suppose. There’s a sneak peek of the shoot and interview online, in which Mischa reveals she’s opening a handbag store in London at the end of May. But we’re more excited about the photos, which cast Mischa in a high-fashion glow. Check ‘em out below and see more at TWELVmag.com.

UPDATE: Twelv sent us the following details about the shoot:

Hissa chose to have Mischa holding a baby because he has always had a fascination with the Virgin Mary. And in working with Mischa her kind and sweet personality was hard to ignore. So when it came to discussing concepts for the shoot, Hissa felt it would be a way to portray a side of Mischa that has never been seen before. So for the premier of TWELV magazine they both agreed that creating a visual dichotomy between Mischa’s public persona and the famous biblical figure in a high fashion setting would give people the chance to see the actress and designer in a new light.

Source: The Huffington Post

I think the color and sharpness of these make them look much better than the featured scans below.

Now that we’ve got Mischa’s Nylon shoot down pat, I’ve moved on to being concerned about the availability of the Middle Eastern editions of Grazia magazine and L’Officiel. Mischa will be featured in both publications very soon so I hope that we’ll somehow get these images too. Any Middle Eastern Mischa fans out there that can help with these, please do e-mail me.

I’ve also added an additional behind-the-scenes photo from the shoot plus an uncluttered version of the cover shot – via Daylight.

DUBAI — Mischa Barton is turning her focus to fashion design.

The sometime actress and regular tabloid fodder launched her contemporary collection, Mischa, at an event in Dubai Mall’s Rivaage Boutique Wednesday night.

The signature apparel line, a collaboration with her mother, Nuala, is reminiscent of the retro Bohemian style the actress made famous while starring on the hit show “The O.C.” from 2003 to 2006.

The collection features feminine dresses, vintage-style skirts and cardigans, jumpsuits, leggings and signature pieces like the Mischa jacket. Barton said she’s still very much focused on acting, but the fashion line “gives me an opportunity to take out my creative energies.”

The pieces, manufactured in China, retail for between $45 and $450. The collection had a soft launch two months ago online, selling out within days without any marketing. “It’s for women ranging from 15 to 35. There are different pieces that will appeal to different styles, but the main thing is I wanted it to feel functional and easy to wear,” Barton told WWD. “My sister, who’s 36 and a barrister in London, wears a lot of it.”

This is Barton’s second trip to Dubai. She came for the lavish launch party of the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in 2008. She described her visit as “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”

She returned to Dubai to launch her collection because there was a strong demand for her accessories line, which she has been designing since 2009. “It wasn’t even available in this market, but women really made a great effort to get the bags,” she said.

Next up for actress-turned-entrepreneur is a 1,000-square-foot store opening in London’s Spitalfields area next month.  The store, which she said has a “vintage feel,” will carry her clothing and accessories line as well as a range of Mischa Barton-branded cosmetics. “I’m not looking at being mass market. I’d like to grow the business organically,” she said.

This venture is very much a family business for Barton. Her mother is managing the business aspects of the brand and said it is fully a family-run business and, at the moment, they have no outside investors. They plan to grow the business in whatever direction the demand dictates. “Before we’ve even launched the London flagship, we’ve gotten requests for franchises in China,” said Nuala Barton.

She added they hope to bring the line to the U.S. by the end of the year.

Source: WWD

These photos shared by @sarahdeath @CosmoMiddleEast @BazaarArabia.

While in Dubai, Mischa also attended the Katch Launch Party at Cirque Du Soir Dubai. These photos courtesy their Facebook page.

Additionally, Mischa made time for a photoshoot with Grazia Middle East. These shots shared by @MischAmazing and @Grazia_me.

Finally, here are some other pictures shared of Mischa’s trip on Twitter. Credits underneath the pics.